Valve for vacuum-cleaner dust bags



Nov. 18,1930. R. E. GRAY 1,782,064 V ALVE FOR VACUUM CLEANER DUST: BAGSFiled April 16. 1929 Patented Nev. 18, -1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEROSE n. army, or sacnanmvro, CALIFORNIA VALVE roa vacuum-cmanna :oUs'rBAGS- Application filed April 16, 1929. Serial 1T0 355,637.

sence of suction within the bag.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanical sweeping andcleaning apparatus and particularly to a closure for the inlet end ofthe bag adapted to retain the dust and for-. eign material collected bythe apparatus.

In devices of this character, such as the ordinary vacuum cleaner, thereceptacle is made from suitable fabric that permits air to passtherethrough with relative freedom, while retaining the dust, lint, andforeign material, within the bag, untilsuch time as it is desired toempty the latter. However, it is most important that the refuse passing.into the bag with the air shall not be permitted to return to'the fan orother vacuum producer. Moreover, it is important that the flow of airshall be relatively as unimpeded as possible, regardless of the presenceof any closing means for preventing such return of the collected dustand refuse.

Bearing these facts in mind, the present invention contemplates theprovision of a,clo-

sure for the inlet end of the dust bag, such closure consisting of apivotally mounted valve that is removably secured in the inlet end ofthe bag and which is moved to open position with the greatest of freedomby suction created within the bag at all times during operation of theapparatus. For this reason,

the valve is made comparatively light whileat the same time it is ofsuflieientweight to insure its being automatically closed -or moved toits closed position upon cessation of the operations of the apparatus orin the ab- With these and other objects in view, the invention consistsof certain novel details of construction and combinations andarrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully describedand the novel features there- 1 of particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings-,-

Figure 1 is a'view in side elevation, partially broken away, of aportable vacuum cleaner and its associated dust receptacle.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the connector and dust bag with thevalve in open position.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the valve open.

Fig. 4 is'a plan view partly in section of the connector looking in theopposite direction from Fig. 3, and shofwingthe valve closed. As is wellunderstood, the dust baglO is attached at its inlet end to the apparatus11 by a connector 12 and its rear end is suspended from the handle 13 bya chain or the flexible connection 14. This is the usual construction inthe commercial portable vacuum cleaner now on the market, comprising afan for drawing dirt and refuse by suction through a nozzle 15 anddirecting it through the outlet nozzle 16 of the apparatus into thefabric dust (:5 bag 10. In order to prevent refuse once carried into thebag from returning to the fan, a closure. is provided for the inlet endof the the connector with bag for that end which is attached to the connector 12. As shown more fullyin Fig. 2, this closure for the inlet endof the bag consists of a flap valve 17 detachably secured at said inletend, said valve being pivoted to open inwardly into the bagso that itwill be opened by suction of air passin through the bag and free toclose automaticaIly or by gravity upon cessation of the operation. ofthe apparatus in theabsence of suction.

Preferably, said valve is pivoted at 18 on a ring 19 that is clamped inthe connector 12 between the interior shoulder 20 formed on saidconnector and a washer 21. It might be added that the dust bag 10 issecured to the connector by the clamping ring 22. As will be understood,the connector 12 is'attached to the outlet nozzle 16of the apparatus bya pin (not shown) engaging in the ba onet slot 23. While the valve 17 iscomparatively light so. a as to facilitate its being 0 ened b suctionwithin' the bag, itis pre erred t at it be to counterweighted as at 24or at theed e of the valve remote from its pivot 18. sually, after thedust bag has been filled toits'normal capacity it is emptied by openinlit at its end which is suspended from-the andle of the apparatus, butit will be a preciated that with the present invention t s procedure maynot necessarily be followed as the i valve 17 can be easily and quicklyremoved by removing the washer 21 and it can, "of j course, be replaced"with the same 'facility after the bag is emptied of the refusecontained therein. I

What I claim is: p

1. The combination ofa dust bag connector, means for'attaching aodustbag to said connector, and an inlet valve for said bag removably securedin said connector, said valve being automatically movable to its closedposition in the absence of pressure in the connector. L p

2. The combination of a dust bag connector, having a central bore, meansfor attach ing a dust bag to said-connector, a washer in for said dustbag pivoted on said ring mem-- said centralbore, andan inlet valve forsaid bag detachably secured between said washer and connector.

3. The combination of a dust bag connector having a central bore, meansfor attaching a dust bag to said connector, a washer in said centralbore,- a ring clamped between said washer and connector, and ahinletvalve her.

4. The combination of a dust bag connector having akcentral bore, meansfor attaching a dust bag to said connector, a washer in said centralbore, and a ivotally mounted inlet valve for said'dust ag removablysecured between said washer and connector.

5. The combination of a dust bag connector, having a central bore, meansfor attaching a dust bag to said connector, a removable washer msacentral bore, a ring member -secured between said washer and connector,an inlet valve for-the bag pivoted on said member, and a counterweighton said valve at a p int remote from the pivotal center of the latter.

i ROSE E. GRAY.

